California Department of Transportation

Caltrans Installing New Signs Statewide to Remind Motorists to “Move Over” for Law Enforcement and Highway Workers

SACRAMENTO – Caltrans workers and the California Highway Patrol will be out in force today on highways throughout the state, installing “Move Over” signs intended to help save lives and increase safety for motorists, highway workers, CHP officers, and other law enforcement.

“Every day, highway workers put their lives in danger just by going to work,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “We’re asking motorists to slow down, watch out for highway workers and CHP, and safely move over a lane when they see flashing amber lights on Caltrans or other emergency vehicles.”

The new signs will display the messages, “Move Over or Slow for Stopped Emergency and Maintenance Vehicles” and “Move Over or Slow When Amber Lights Flashing.” In addition, more than 700 existing electronic highway message signs statewide will display, “Move Over or Slow for Workers, It’s the Law.”

“Every year, a growing number of law enforcement, emergency personnel, and highway workers are killed or injured along California’s roadways,” said California Highway Patrol Commissioner Joe Farrow. “One way to help minimize the risk for these workers is for the motoring public to do their part by paying attention and exercising caution on the road. If you see emergency lights on the shoulder ahead, the law requires you to move over or slow down.”

Signs are being installed today at these locations:

Elkhorn on-ramp on southbound I-5

Dunnigan on-ramp on north and southbound I-5

Maxwell on-ramp on north and southbound I-5

Willows on-ramp on north and southbound I-5

Gold Run on-ramp on east and westbound I-80

Donner on-ramp on east and westbound I-80

California and Nevada state line on westbound I-80

Pollock Pines .5 miles past off-ramp on westbound U.S. 50

The Move Over law, which took effect in 2007, was amended in 2009 to add Caltrans vehicles displaying flashing amber warning lights to the list of vehicles for which motorists must move over if safe to do so, or slow down.

Highway construction and maintenance work is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. Since the 1920s, 178 Caltrans employees have died while on the job.